I do. I didn't put the stick in or rent storage space because
I was gone much of the year. I really missed it. I've been
thinking about getting another one for match racing.

So you guys don't race in that? I've never seen an Etchells
race stopped for too much wind in SF Bay--although they did
cut back the schedule for August racing when 9 boats lost their
rigs in the Pacific Coast Championship one year. August is
the hottest month inland and hence the windiest on the Bay.

I've sailed Echells in 35 knots many times. It gets a little hairy
downwind but it is managable most of the time with three guys
who have trained intensely together. I don't have any crew here
in Connecticut, that are good enough for that sort of thing.

The last time I came close to that in an Etchells I had a Star
boat racing along who never used a spinnaker. I gave him the
helm as I tried to carry the spinnaker up the river. With the
wind shifts, I had a rather dicey looking take down actually go
quite well--one mistake and we'd have been aground and over
though. It would have been nice to have one more guy on the
boat.

Once they start oscillating, that is when it gets exciting. What
techniques do you do to control that? I've since read Stuart
Walker say to trim the main in halfway--I'd like to see how
effective that is--that is way more than I've ever trimmed it in. It
seems to me that would just make you round right up.

How is your season going? Still racing?

OzOne wrote:
"Bart"
scribbled thusly:

It was gusty and challenging sailing today. Winds were
above 10 knots minimum with gusts well over 25 knots.

Etchells went out yesterday, starter pulled the pin when wind was over
25kts and gusting 35.

Do you still own one?